Hernial truss.



Patented Jan. 14, m2.

R. HumMELL QHERNIAL muss. (Application fil'ed Aug. 24, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Mqdel.)

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS mzwcamx PETERS c0. PHOYO-LITHQ.. WASHINGTON, n. c.

No. 69!,l43. Patented Ian. l4, I902.

n. HUMMEL.

HEBNIAL TRUSS.

(Application filed Aug. 24, 1901.)

2 Sheets 8heet 2.

(No Model ATTORNEYS v UNITED STATES RICHARD HUMMEL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

HERNIAL TRUSS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 691,143, dated January 14, 1902.

Application filed August 24,1901. Serial No. 73,108. (No model.)

To (tZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD IIUMMEL, a

citizenof the United States, and a resident of New York, county of New York, and State of NewYork,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trusses, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part thereof, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. This invention relates to improvements in trusses for the treatment of hernia in human patients,-and has for its object to produce an inexpensive appliance of that class whereby such hernia may be speedily reduced in such a Way as to greatly reduce the pain of the patient.

The nature of the invention will be fully understood from the following general description and the annexed drawings and will be subsequently pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a top View of my newly-invented truss. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 are view of details more fully hereinafter described. Figs. 7 and 8 are details of modification of my invention, more fully hereinafter described. I

In the said drawings, a designates a spring of the form illustrated. It may be of either round, square, rectangular, or any other desirable and available cross-section and may be made of any suitable and available material; but I prefer to make it of phosphorbronze in order that it may not be easily rusted and rendered brittle,as steel and many other materials would be in a like situation. Upon this spring 0 are mounted the pads b b and a a. The pads o. a, which are for the back of the patient, are made of hard rubber or other similar material. In each is drilled a channel suitable to receive the end of the spring 0. In the middle of the back is form ed a recess (designated by d.) Into this recess fits the block 6. This block 6 is pierced with a channel, which registers with the channel in the pad or and receives the end of the spring 0, which is here clamped by the screw f. The elastic band a extends over the distance between the two pads a and a and is held in position by the screws f. In this band may be cut a plurality of adjusting'holes to accommodate the screws f.

The pads 12 and b are primarily hollow rubber cushions, which must be of proper size to cover the rupture. They may contain compressed air or any other available and adaptablefilling. In the middle of the back of these is formed a recess iand a series of pits s in a segment of acircle which is concentric with the said recess 1'. On the backs of these pads are fastened the metallic plates by means of suitable screws. In the middle of each plate is bored a hole to accommodate the shanks of the screws Z. In these plates are also bored holes corresponding to the pits 's. The heads p of the screws Z are held by the plates 70 in the recesses t. On the projecting thread ends of these screws are held thelower membersm of theclamps mm. The upper members n of these clamps are held in position and operated by the screws 0, so that they are adapted to bind on the spring c. The screw-pins 1', which pass through one end of each of the upper members 72 of the clamps m 01 extend downward through the holes in plates 7t and into the pits s in the back of the pads I). These pads are fastened in proper position on the spring a, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The spring 0, if it be desired, may be covered with a sheath of rubber or leather or any other suitable material, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

To use my invention, it is placed on the body of the patient in the common way, so that the back pads Ct at will be in easy and comfortable position. Then the spring 0 will extend forward over the hips in almost horizontal position. The pads 19 and b can be properly adjusted over the rupture. If the pads do not fit properly, they can be adjusted by screwing out the screw-pins r and turning the pads until they are in proper position. The screw-pins may then be screwed in to hold them in position, and lastly the elastic band a, is adjusted so that the pads will bear properly on the parts to be compressed. It

will then be found that the instrument will, although the compression is considerable, sit easily and readily and quickly bend with the motions of the patients body, and so reduce the pain and inconvenience of wearing a truss IOO to a minimum. If the rupture be nearly opposite the top of the hips, the spring may con-- tinue horizontally around the body; but if the rupture be either above or below this the spring 0 maybe formed so as to be adapted to it.

In Figs. 7 and 8 I show a modification of my pad. In this the pad consists, primarily, of an oval structure h, of hard material, such as sheet metal and the like. Around this is fastened by suitable screws, holding it to the plate is, the rubber facing t. The head 19 of the screw Z is held in a recess 1' by the plate 70. A spring-clamp m is fastened on the thread end of the screw Z and clamps the spring 0. The screw-pin r works in pits in the plate 70, and the back side of the structure it conforms to these pits. The back of the structure it is provided with an air-vent, which is fitted into the cylinder w, and is provided with the vent-holes w. This pad may be used in place of the pads 12 1) before described.

Having now described my invention and the manner in which the same is constructed and used, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a truss, the combination with a spring adapted to encircle the body of a patient; of compression-pads, comprising a hollow oval structure, formed with pits and recesses as specified, and backed by a perforated plate; the said perforations arranged to register with said pits and recess; screws held by said plate with their heads in said recesses, two-part and spring clamps held by said screws, and detachably connecting said' pads and said spring; pins passing through the said perforations in said platesand working in said pits, and said clamps and said pins arranged to adjust said pads on said spring; and an elastic band connecting the ends of said spring; all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a truss, the combination with a spring adapted to encircle the body of a patient; of compression-pads, formed with pits and recesses as specified; perforated plates fastened on the backs on said pads, the perforations whereof register with said pits and recess, screws held by said plates in said recesses; two-part and spring clamps held by said screws, and detachably and adjustably connecting said pads to said spring; screws operating said clamps; screw pins Working through said plates and in said pits and with said clamps affording facility for adjusting said pads on said spring; and an elastic band connecting the ends of said spring; all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a truss, the combination with a spring adapted to encircle the body of a patient; of hollow compression-pads formed with pits and recesses as specified, perforated plates fastened on the backs of said pads; screws held by said plates in said recesses; two-part and spring clamps held by said screws, and detachably connecting said pads to said spring; pins formed with screw-threads, and working in one member of said clamps through said plate and in said pits, and with said clamps affording facility for adjusting said pads on said springs; and an elastic band connecting the ends of said spring; and means for holding said band in position; all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a truss, the combination with a spring adapted to encircle the body of a patient; of hollow compression-pads, formed with pits, recesses,and air-vents as specified; perforated plates fastened on the backs of said pads; and arranged with their perforations registering with said pits and recess, screws held in said recesses by said plates; adjusting two-part and spring clamps held by said screws, and detachably, and adj ustably connecting said pads with said spring; screws working in said clamps to operate them; pins formed with screw-threads, and working in one member of said clamps through said perforated plate and in said pits, and in connection with said clamps affording facility for adjusting said pads on said spring; and an elastic band connecting the ends of said spring, and by its resilience adapted to adjust the distance between said ends; all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed lny'name, in presence of two witnesses, this 8th day of August, 1001.

RICHARD HUMMEL.

Witnesses:

SOPHIA HARNISOH, BELLE PATERSON. 

